Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Top 10 Fantasy Baseball Outfielders

One of my favorite positions on the diamond is outfield. To roam a big
league outfield, players either need speed, or a bat that won’t be
forgotten. On this list of outfielders, some rare players with rare
features called five-tools will be mentioned. To be a five-tool player, a
player almost must do everything exceptionally. These players must have
phenomenal hit for power, hit for average, fielding ability, throwing
ability and speed. This list promises to include some of these players.

10-Matt Holliday
Remember when this All-Star outfielder was an Athlete? Yeah, neither
do I. This 33-year old is entering his tenth season in the bigs and is a
career .313 hitter. Since coming to St. Louis three and a half years
ago, he hasn’t hit under 22 homeruns and has hit .314. In his career, he
has had seven season of over 20 homeruns and five seasons of 100+ RBIs.
Having an outfielder on your fantasy team who can hit at an elite level
is what you are looking for. Matt also stays on the field, having
played at least 120 games in each of his major league seasons. Holliday
will get plenty of chances to drive in runs in a great Cardinal lineup.
Matt Holliday is consistent, and if you choose him for your fantasy
team, you will not be disappointed.

9-Adam Jones
This two-time Gold Glove winner had his best season as a pro last
season. Jones helped Baltimore reach their first playoff berth since
1997. Jones set careers highs in homeruns (32), average (.287), runs
(103), hits (186), doubles (39), OBP (.334), and OPS (.839). I know that
was a lot, but this player is worth it. Entering his sixth season as an
Oriole, Jones is looking to have an even better season this year. Jones
posted his second straight 25+ homerun, 82+ RBI season. The 27-year old
seems to have been around forever, but he is just coming into his
prime, and it will be a beautiful thing to watch. Jones also set a
career high in steals with 16 last season and should look to steal more
this year. Adam Jones will look great on anybody’s team this year, get
him while he’s hot.

8- Josh Hamilton
I would like to introduce the 2010 MVP and the newest addition to the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Josh Hamilton. There is a reason Texas
who two straight American League pennants, Josh Hamilton only failed
once to drive in more than 94 RBIs and that was in his injury plagued
2009 season when he only played in 89 games. Hamilton this year will
join with another former MVP Albert Pujols and will look to be the
scariest 3-4 duo in the league. Last season, he set career highs in
homeruns with 43 and runs with 103. His 128 RBIs last season was his
second highest mark in his career, only his 2008 season with 130 RBIs
were more. With the Rangers, Josh hit 30 or more doubles in every season
except one. I am expecting a huge season from Josh Hamilton this
season, maybe not as crazy as 43 homeruns, but this .304 career hitter
will hit 30 homeruns and drive in many Angels in this upcoming season.
When you celebrate your fantasy championship with Josh, remember the
apple cider.

7-Jose Bautista
Jose hits bombs, and a lot of them. The slugger ended last year’s
season injured, and only played in 92 games, but he still hit 27
homeruns. That season doesn’t compare to his 2010 and 2011 years, when
he hit 54 and 43 homeruns respectively. This three-time All-Star is
heading into his fifth season with the Jays and is prepared for his
biggest yet, even bigger than when he hit 54 bombs and drove in 124
runs. The Jays loaded up this offseason, and that only helps the cases
for all of the Jays hoping to make fantasy teams. Well, Bautista is one
of those guys who will benefit from having fellow All-Stars hitting in
front and behind him. In his full seasons of 2010 and 2011, he in each
season 100+ runs scored, 100+ RBIs, 100+ walks, and an OPS over .995. I
can almost guarantee that Jose Bautista will drive in fellow Jose, Jose
Reyes, a bunch of times in 2013. Jose hit .302 in 2011, which is his
career high, which I am not expecting. Jose Bautista will hit at least
45 homeruns this season, it doesn’t matter what his average it, he will
hit bombs, and help you win.

6-Giancarlo Stanton
Formerly known as Mike Stanton, Giancarlo has one of the prettiest and
powerful swings in the majors. If it weren’t for the Marlins being one
of the majors worst teams this season, he may have been a little higher.
That being said, Gian still has the potential to hit 50 homeruns. This
23-year old already has 93 career homeruns, and in his three pro
seasons, he has never hit under 22. He has improved every season since
his rookie year, when he was a Florida Marlin. In his 2011 and 2012
campaigns, he hit 34 then a career high 37 homeruns, and drove in 87 and
86 RBIs. Last season, he also set career highs in average, OBP,
Slugging, and OPS. Stanton has rare power when he steps up to the plate.
He plays in one of the biggest and ugliest stadiums in the league and
that only hurts Stanton, but he still hit absolute bombs last year, like
when he broke the scoreboard in left field. He also set a career high
with a 12.1 AB/HR which is very impressive. If you have the chance to
have Giancarlo on your team you should take it, and know you won’t be
lacking power.

5-Carlos Gonzalez
Cargo is one of those players with all five-tools that you look for in a
player. This two-time Gold Glove winner continues to produce each
season, and the 3-4 duo of Cargo and Tulowitzki is a very dangerous duo.
Cargo recorded his third straight 20+ stolen base season which is very
impactful in any fantasy league. The 27-year old hasn’t played in 150
games yet in his short career, which is a red flag, but when he is on
the field, he produces. In his last three years, he has averaged 97
runs, 27 homeruns and 98 RBIs while hitting .311. And that is with not
playing 150 games in any of those seasons. Cargo is the complete package
and he is an elite talent. Of course playing at Coors Field will help
Cargo along with any of his fantasy owners. He hit an outrageous .368
last year at Coors. Carlos Gonzalez is a player who will make your
fantasy outfield standout. He can do everything at an elite level, and
that is why he has the title of a five-tool player.

4- Andrew McCutchen
Andrew McCutchen had a career year is 2012, not only represented by a
Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award, but many broken personal records.
Unlike Cargo, Andrew has played in at least 154 in each of the last
three seasons. Andrew has also stolen at least 20 bags in each of his
four big-league seasons. The center-fielder is a career .290 hitter, hit
a career high .327 last season with a .400 OBP. He showed last season
that he is a five-tool player, racking up a career high 31 homeruns. He
also set career highs in runs (107), hits (194), and RBIs (96). The
two-time All-Star does play on a mediocre Pirates team, but he will
still put up all of his numbers. McCutchen has a huge ceiling, even
though I can never see him hitting more than 35 homeruns, he can easily
hit .320-.330 for years to come. He is entering his fifth season and
probably is soon entering his peak. Andrew is going to go in the first
round in most fantasy drafts this season and will patrol a number one
outfield spot. Will you be smart and swipe up this potential MVP?

3-Matt Kemp
Speaking of five-tool players, Matt Kemp is one of the best. Last
season, Kemp only played in 106 games because of injury, but still hit
23 homeruns. Two-years removed from being runner-up in the MVP race,
Kemp was one homerun away from his first 40-40 season. His actually
stats from his amazing 2011 season were .324 average, 39 homeruns, 126
RBIs, with 195 hits and 115 runs. The dude is a stud. Before being
injured in 2012, Matt played in at least 155 games in four-straight
seasons, which is great for fantasy owners, knowing he could be in there
every day. Looking forward to the 2013 season, Kemp will be hitting in a
stacked lineup including many ex-Red Sox. If Matt Kemp can stay on the
field this year, which I am fully anticipating, he has the chance to
pursue the rare 40-40 season. He is currently on a streak on four
consecutive seasons with at least 23 homeruns, and he hit that 23 in his
injury season last year. Kemp will be off the board very fast in
upcoming drafts, and he will look great on anybody’s team. Fully
healthy, an MVP candidate every season he plays.

2- Mike Trout
2012 Rookie of the Year, Mike Trout, is one of the best talents in
baseball at the young age of 21. Going into his second full season,
Trout had one of the best rookie years in MLB history. If Miguel Cabrera
didn’t have a Triple Crown year, then the award probably would’ve gone
to Trout. Nobody knows the ceiling for Trout. Not only is he only of the
best players in the game, but he is the most dynamic leadoff hitters in
the game. Here is his stat line from last season, 129 runs scored, 182
hits, 30 homeruns, 83 RBIs, .326 average with a .399 OBP, oh and he had
49 steals only being caught five times. He is a stud and is in
contention for the number one overall fantasy pick this season. Being in
a lineup where you are the table-setter for the likes of Albert Pujols
(former MVP), Josh Hamilton (former MVP) and Mark Trumbo is a beautiful
thing for not only the hitters in that lineup, not only for the fans of
the Angels, but for Mike Trout fantasy owners. I had the privilege of
having Trout on my team last season and boy, would I love to have him on
my team this season. Mike Trout has the ability to carry your fantasy
team for weeks, and I have experienced that. Trout is in the mix as one
of the best five-tool players we have in the game, and last season was
his rookie year, that’s scary.

1-Ryan Braun
This former Rookie of the Year, MVP and five-time consecutive Silver
Slugger award winner Ryan Braun is one of the best players in baseball.
He is the face of the Brewers for the present, and the very long future.
Braun has played in at least 150 games in each of the past five
seasons, and has driven in at least 103 runs in those seasons with at
least 35 doubles. He has had at least 187 hits in each of the last four
seasons and has scored at least 101 runs in those seasons. In his six
big-league seasons he has only hit under 30 homeruns once, and it was 25
in 2010. He has only hit under .300 once and that was in 2008 when he
hit .285. The most underrated part of Braun’s game is his stolen base
ability. He’s had two straight years of at least 30, and is looking to
extend that streak this season. His career lows for runs scored is 91
and RBIs is 97. That is unheard of. And both of those were in his rookie
season, which was 2007. His career low OPS (On-base plus Slugging) is
.866. The man can flat out hit. He is one of the most likable guys in
the league on and off the field and he is what you are looking for to
build your team around. If you have the fourth overall pick this season,
you may be too late for Braun, which is unfortunate. With Ryan Braun on
your team, your team is already in a pretty good place.